Memory unit for automatic shuttle changing on looms having a plurality of shuttles



Get. 15, 1957 E. A. BUTIN 2,899,671

MEMORY UNIT FOR AUTOMATIC SHUTTLE CHANGING ON LOOMS HAVING A PLURALITYOF SHUTTLES Filed April 8. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get, 15, 1957 E. A.BUTIN 2,809,671

' MEMORY UNIT FOR AUTOMATIC SHUTTLE CHANGING ON LOOMS HAVING A PLURALITYOF SHUTTLES Filed April 8, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Qi. 15., 195'? E. A.BUTIN 2,809,671

MEMORY UNIT FOR AUTOMATIC SHUTTLE CHANGING ON LOOMS HAVING A PLURALITYOF SHUTTLES Filed April 8, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ca. 15, 395? E. A.BUTIN 2,809,671

MEMORY UNIT FOR AUTOMATIC SHUTTLE CHANGING ON LooMs HAVING A PLURALITYOF SHUTTLES Filed April 8, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2,809,6il Ice PatentedOct. 15, 1957' MEMORY UNIT FGR AUTOMATIC SHUTTLE CHANGING ON LOOMSHAVING A PLU- RALITY OF SHUTTLES Emile Achille Bufin, Lyon, FranceApplication April 8, 1953, Serial No. 347,493

Claims priority, application France April 18, 1952 7 Claims. (Cl.139-232) My invention has for its object improvements in the automaticshuttle-changing in looms operating with a number, say four, of weftsand shuttles, said change of shuttle being operated in a purelymechanical manner without stopping the operation of the loom.

According to my invention, two control means are provided which areoperated respectively through the weft feeler and through the shuttlebox selector arrangement, the former setting the shuttle-changingmechanism for operation, the actual change being produced immediately ifthe shuttle box corresponding to the color or nature of the shuttle, thesupply of which is exhausted, is still in the operative position, orbeing produced only when this shuttle box returns to the operativeposition if a shuttle box change has occurred meanwhile. To this end, arecording system which I will term a memory unit is inserted between theweft feeler and the arrangement providing for the substitution of areplenished shuttle for the empty shuttle.

In accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the memory unit and associatedparts.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are side views thereof at different stages ofoperation.

The actual so-called memory unit which forms the object of my inventionincludes, in the case illustrated of a loom provided with four shuttlescorresponding to four types of weft, the following members:

A barrel 27 is revolubly mounted round its spindle 100 in a carrierframe 29. The said barrel is rigid with an arm 33 connected through arod 141 with the means controlling the shuttle-box arrangement, i. e.with the means providing for the change of weft when required; thiscontrol system 102 is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly so as toproduce through the above-mentioned transmission members 33 and 161, apartial revolution of the barrel 27 round its spindle 100 either in onedirection or in the other.

T o the periphery of the barrel are secured four keys or projections 32distributed angularly in the plane of the drawing and alsoperpendicularly with reference to said plane. These keys 32 are thuslocated on a helical line drawn on the barrel 27.

The frame 29 carrying the said barrel is suspended to a stationary shaft31 round which it may rock so as to prd duce simultaneouly a shifting ofthe barrel 27. The frame 29 is urged back by a spring 193 against astationary adjustable stop 184 which defines its inoperative position.To this frame is secured a cable 11 which allows producing its pivotalmovement round the spindle 31.

To a stationary spindle 44 are suspended levers 37 the number of whichis four in the case considered of a fourpick loom. Only one of the saidlevers is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4. These levers are referred tohereinafter as recording levers and are provided each with a notch 46and a hook-shaped extension 45 projecting over and partly encircling thebarrel 27 and the end of which registers with the corresponding key 32carried by the said barrel 27.

Further levers 38, also four. in number, are positioned in register withthe corresponding levers 37 and are also freely suspended to astationary shaft 55. These levers 38 are designated hereinafter ascovering levers and they include each a crescent-shaped section and atail-piece 1% normally engaged by the notch of the corresponding lever37.

To the shaft 55 is also pivotally secured a further series of so-calledcontrol levers 39. Each of the said levers 39 corresponds to one of theabove mentioned covering levers 38 and includes underneath the latter anextension 56 serving as a hearing. The control levers 39 include,furthermore, beyond their common pivot constituted by the shaft 55, acounterweight 107 which makes the corresponding lever tip over and urgesit, when inoperative, against a stationary bar 108. Underneath thelevers 38 is provided a chain constituted by selecting plates 35, thesaid chain being controlled in the usual manner by the shuttle-boxmechanism of the loom. These plates extend throughout the lengthoccupied by the four juxtaposed levers 39 and they are provided withsuitably located bosses 36.

Further levers 43 inserted between the successive levers 33 are freelyand pivotally secured to the stationary spindle 49. These levers will betermed hereinafter the release levers and they include each asector-shaped part provided with a notch 48, the said notch beinglocated nearer the shaft 49 than the periphery of the crescent-shapedpart 105 of any lever 38. In other words, the notches 48 in the levers43 are located at a level which is lower than that of thecrescent-shaped parts 105 of the levers 38. The release levers 43 areprovided with extensions 109 to the ends of which are attached cables 6,7, 8, 9, respectively.

To the spindle 49 is pivotally secured, to the rear of the levers 43, afurther lever 52. This lever is provided at one end with a transversebar 53 extending throughout the breadth occupied by the extensions 109of the levers 43 and at the other end with an extension 110 carrying inits turn a small transverse bar 54 extending throughout the breadthoccupied by the tail pieces 166 forming part of the levers 38, but at alevel lower than that of the bearing extensions 56 of the levers 39.This lever 52 will be termed hereinafter the general release lever. Tothe upper end of the said lever 52 is attached a cable 12.

Lastly, the above-mentioned spindle 49 carries a frame 41 the outer endof which carries a spindle 50 to which are pivotally secured fourcatches 42. Each of the said catches extends partly over the section 1&5of the corresponding lever 33 and over the notch 48 in the adjacentcorresponding lever 43. The frame 41 is rigid with a projection 51engaging a cam 28 driven into a continuous rotary movement round itsaxis 111 by a chain 34 which is driven in its turn by the crankshaft ofthe loom.

The memory unit described hereinabove is secured to one of the sides ofthe frame of the weaving loom (Fig. 1) through the supports 4 and therod 5.

To the other side of the loom is secured the shuttle holder 2 which, inthe case considered of a loom operating with four different types ofweft, includes four channels in which are housed the spare shutters. TheWeft feeler 3 is also located on the same side as the shuttle holder 2.

The cables 6, 7, 8, 9, respectively secured to the ends 199 of thelevers 43 aresheathed together inside a tube 13 and extend therewiththroughout the breadth of the loom. This tube 13 is carried by supports14. The cables 6, 7, 8 and 9 pass through a small plate 15 secured tothe frame of the shuttle holder 2 and they are connected respectivelywith the members cooperating with the four channels of the shuttleholder which control the release ofa afull shuttle to provide for itsoperation, as fully disclosed in-my prior-U. S. Patents-Nos. 2,493,570and 2,572,107. These cables, starting from the memory unit, pass alsothrough the tensioning means 16 (Fig. 2). As to the cable 11 attachedto-the frame 29 carryingthe barrel '27 and to the cable '12 -attached tothe end of the lever-52, they also-pass inside t-he tube-1'3 across aportion ofthe breadth of the loom, after which they enter a branch tube19 and end-in register with-the feeler 3 adapted to check in the usualmannerthe amount of weft carried by the shnt-tle'duringoper-ation eachtime said shuttle registers with said feeler. v

In Fig. 1, 17 designates the lever of the feeler, which is actuated bysaid feeler each time the provision of weft remaining in an operativeshuttle is about to 'be exhausted, Said'lever 17 is connected-through arod 25*with a lever 21 adapted to rock round'a spindle 23 carried insidea bearing 1'12at the lower end of the loom. jTo said lever 21'isattached the endof the cable '11. A'lever 18 is adapted when engaged toproduce the engagement of the different parts which set the double boxon the batten shaft in a position such that it may receive a replenishedshuttle and release the preceding operative empty shuttle, saidarrangement being of the type fully disclosed in my priorabove-mentioned specifications. Said lever 18 is connected through a rod26 with a lever 22 carried by the above-mentioned spindle 23. Said lever22 is connected in its turn with the above-referred cable 12.

It should be remarked that the lever 21 is reyolubly carried by thespindle 23 while the lever 22 is keyed to said spindle. The latter isalso'rigid with a lever 24 controlling the transportation of areplenished shuttle 1 between the storing holder therefor and theopening box on the batten, after said replenished shuttle has been released from its storing holder, .as disclosed in my prior specification2,572,107 andmy copending application Ser.

No. 347,495, filed on April 8, 1953.

Before describing the general operation of said system,

it should be remembered that the actual memory unit is' of the arrow122; and the frame 41 assumes permanently a reciprocatingoscillatory'movement in the direction of the arrow 123 round the shaft49 and carries along with it during its movement the catches 42 mountedon said frame.

he three abovementioned movements are without any effect on the normaloperation of the loom if the feeler has not detected an exhaust of theweft thread in a shuttle to such an extent that the replacement of thelatter has become necessary. i

As a matter of fact, the catches 42 are raised by the crescent-shapedpart 105 of the lever 38 so as to be out of reach of the notches 48 inthe levers 43 over which said catches move without being capable ofengaging the latter (see Fig. 2).

When the feeler 3 is operative as a consequence of a shuttle beingexhausted, said feeler draws the rocking frame 29 through the agency ofthe lever 17, of the rod 2 5,,of the lever 21 and of the cable 11andshifts it in e di ectio of h a row .24

t th e emen o e pe ion o he fe e t e mo ementof the shuttle-boxdcontrolmeans has shifted the barrel 27 into a positional-1G1; that the ,key32correspond- I ing to the operative weft lies in front of thecrook-shaped .end 45 of thecorresponding recording. lever 37.

The frame 29 and the barrel 27 being drawn by the cable 11 and beingshifted thereby'in the direction of the arrow 124, one of theabovementioned keys of the barrel produces a clockwise rocking of arecording lever 37 round'its axis 44. Said lever allows then thecovering lever 38 to drop under the action of gravity, theend 106 .oflast mentioned lever being released with reference to the notch 46 inthe lever 37. a

Two possibilities may then arise, for when the shuttle in use at thattime has been sensed and found to be near exhaustion, it must stillperform one complete to-and-fro movement thronghthe shed, penetrating.onceinto the shuttle box on the opposite side of the loom, beforereturning to the box in which it will be withdrawn from use and replacedby another shuttle.

It may happen, for example, either that the box into which the emptyshuttle penetrates remains in use, in which first case the shuttlereturns immediately and is replaced, or that this same box is changed atthe very moment when the empty shuttle penetrates, so that another boxand another shuttle come into use, and in this second case the emptyshuttle will not have returned to the box in which it is to be withdrawnfrom use and replaced by a full shuttle, and it is the purpose of thepresent invention to provide for such return and replacement when, andnot until, the box into which the empty. shuttle penetrates comes backinto use.

In the first case the boss 36 of the shuttle in use remains in positionunder the lever 39, which lever'is in the position shown in Figure 4,its end 56 being lowered and allowing the lever 38, released from thenotch 46, to rock sufliciently for the crescent-shaped section touncover the notch 48 of the correspondingjlever 43;

The corresponding catch 42 carried by the frame 41 engages then thenotch 48 during the rocking movement This rock.

of said frame towards the right hand side. ing of the frame towards theright hand side provides thus a rocking in the same direction, throughthe catch 42, of the release lever 43. The latter exerts through itsextension 109 a tensioning action on the cable 6, 7, 8 or 9, whichproduces on the other side of the loom the release in the shuttle holder2 of a shuttle similar to that which is to be changed.

During this movement, the extension 109 of the re lease lever 43 alsoexerts a thrust on the small bar 53.011

the lever 52 and shiftsthe latter along with it. The lever.

52 releases through-its cable 12 the means urging the shuttle downwardlyby engaging the shuttle-changing mechanism through the lever 22 which,on .onehand, control the lever 18 and, on the other hand, the lever 24-changing operation, all the parts return. automatically into, theirnormal position inside the memory unit andthe latter is immediatelyready for further operation.

In the second case, where a change of box intervenes in theshuttle-change cycle, the boss 36 raising the lever 39 advances and thislever is lowered again by its counter- In this position the' weight 107against the bar 108. released lever 38 is arrested in its rockingmovement by the extension 56 of the lever 39 serving as a bearing.

As seen in Figure 3, rocking of the lever 38 is insufficient then forits crescent-shaped section 1.05 to uncover the notch 48 of the lever43, so that nothing furthat happens in this cycle, the catch 42 beingunable to penetrate into the notch 48 of the lever 43. The-mechanismacts as ,a memory recording for'future use the need of replacement .ofthe empty shuttle to be- .carried out same lever 39. This can occur onlywhen the, same shuttle boX comes back into use and the lever 39, risingon the side of its counter-weight 107, lowers its bearing extension 56to allow the lever 38 to fulfill its rocking movement and uncover thenotch 48 of the lever 43.

I claim:

l. In the shuttle-changing system of a multiple-weft loom, thecombination of a weft feeler, shuttle-changing mechanisms for thedifferent wefts, shuttle-box selector, a shuttle-box mechanismcontrolling the latter and a memory unit comprising recording levers,the number of which is equal to that of the shuttles in the loom, arotary barrel controlled by the shuttle-box mechanism and including anumber of projections equal to that of the shuttles, a shiftable carrierfor the barrel, means whereby the weft feeler upon engagement with anempty shuttle shifts transiently the shiftable carrier into a positionfor which the barrel projection corresponding to the empty shuttle meetsthe corresponding recording lever and shifts it into a predeterminedangular position, release levers operatively connected with thecorresponding shuttle changing mechanisms and provided each with anotch, catches submitted to a continuous reciprocating movement andadapted to engage each the notch in a different release lever and toshift thereby said release lever into a position for which it controlsthe corresponding shuttlechanging mechanism, plural means engagingnormally each one of the recording levers and released with referencethereto when the corresponding recording lever has been shifted into theabove-mentioned predetermined position, said plural means being adaptedto allow, only when fully released, the operative engagement of thecorresponding catches in the notches of the corresponding releaselevers, control members holding the corresponding last mentioned means,when released, in an intermediate position and means whereby theshuttle-box selector transiently releases the corresponding holdingmembers at the moment of operation of the corresponding shuttles andthereby releases the corresponding last mentioned means to allow thelatter to enter its completely released position and to make thecorresponding release lever become operative.

2. In a shuttle-changing system of the multiple-shuttle type, thecombination of a weft feeler, a shuttle-box control mechanism, ashuttle-changing mechanism for different wefts, a shuttle box selectorcontrolled by the shuttle-box control mechanism and a memory unitcomprising recorsing levers, the number of which is equal to that of theshuttles in the loom, a rotary barrel controlled by the shuttle-boxcontrol mechanism and including a number of projections equal to that ofthe shuttles, a shiftable carrier for the barrel, means whereby the weftfeeier upon engagement with an empty shuttle shifts transsiently theshiftable carrier into a position for which the barrel projectioncorresponding to the empty shuttle meets the corresponding recordinglever and shifts it into a predetermined angular position, releaselevers operatively connected with the corresponding shuttle-changingmechanisms and provided each with a notch, catches sub mitted to acontinuous reciprocating movement and adapted to engage each the notchin a difierent release lever and to shift thereby said release leverinto a position for which it controls the corresponding shuttle-changingmechanism, covering levers each normally engaged by the correspondingrecording lever and released with reference thereto when the saidcorresponding recording lever has been shifted into the above-mentionedpredetermined position, said covering levers normally covering thenotches in the corresponding release levers and adapted when released todrop into a notch-uncovering position, control levers corresponding eachto a shuttle and contro led selectively by the shuttle-box selector atthe moment of the passage of the correspondfing shuttle to enter anoperative position, said control levers when inoperative preventing thecorresponding covering levers from dropping into their notch-uncoveringpositions, the location of any control lever in its operative positionallowing said dropping of the corresponding covering lever and therebyoperation of the corresponding release lever and shuttle-changingmechanism.

3. In a shuttle-changing system of the multiple-shuttle type, thecombination of a weft feeler, a shuttle-box control mechanism, ashuttle-changing mechanism for different wefts and including meansoperating to cause discharge of the empty shuttle and supply of areplenished shuttle, a shuttle box selector controlled by the shuttleboxcontrol mechanism and a memory unit comprising recording levers, thenumber of which is equal to that of the shuttles in the loom, a rotarybarrel controlled by the shuttle-box control mechanism and including anumber of projections equal to that of the shuttles, a shiftable carrierfor the barrel, means whereby the weft feeler upon engagement with anempty shuttle shifts transiently the shiftable carrier into a positionfor which the barrel projection corresponding to the empty shuttle meetsthe corresponding recording lever and shifts it into a predeterminedangular position, release levers operatively connected with thecorresponding shuttle-changing mechanisms and provided each with anotch, catches submitted to a continuous reciprocating movement andadapted to engage each the notch in a release lever and to shift therebysaid release lever into a position for which it controls thecorresponding shuttle-changing mechanism, covering levers each normallyengaged by the corresponding recording lever and released with referencethereto when the said corresponding recording lever has been shiftedinto the above-mentioned predetermined position, said covering leversnormally covering the notches in the corresponding release levers andadapted when released to drop into a notch-uncovering position, controllevers corresponding each to a shuttle and controlled selectively by theshuttle-box selector at the moment of the passage of the correspondingshuttle to enter an operative position, said control levers wheninoperative preventing the corresponding covering levers from droppinginto their notch-uncovering positions, the location of any control leverin its operative position allowing said dropping of the correspondingcovering lever and thereby operation of the corresponding release leversand shuttle-changing mechanism, a common release lever controlledthrough the operation of any of the first mentioned release levers andcontrolling the means operating the shuttle box to allow the change ofthe empty shuttle.

4. In the shuttle-changing system of a multiple-weft loom, thecombination of a weft feeler, shuttle-changing mechanisms for thediiferent wefts, a shuttle-box selector, a shuttle-box mechanismcontrolling the latter and a memory unit comprising recording levers,the number of which is equal to that of the shuttles in the loom, arotary barrel controlled by the shuttle-box mechanism and including anumber of projections equal to that of the shuttles, a shiftable carrierfor the barrel, means whereby the weft feeler upon engagement with anempty shuttle shifts transiently the shiftable carrier into a positionfor which the barrel projection corresponding to the empty shuttle meetsthe corresponding recording lever and shifts it into a predeterminedangular position, release levers operatively connected with thecorresponding shuttlechanging mechanisms and provided each with a notch,catches submitted to a continuous reciprocating movement and adapted toengage each the notch in a different release lever and to shift therebysaid release lever into a position for which it controls thecorresponding shuttlechanging mechanism, plural means engaging normallyeach one of the recording levers and released with reference theretowhen the corresponding recording lever has been shifted into the abovementioned predetermined position, said plural means being adapted toallow, only v 7' 7 when fully released, the operative engagement of thecorresponding catches in the notches of the corresponding releaselevers, control members holding the corresponding last-mentioned means,when released, in an intermediate position and means whereby the shuttlebox selector transiently releases the corresponding holding members at:the moment of operation of'the corresponding shuttles and therebyreleases the corresponding last mentioned means to allow the latter toenter its completely released position and to make the correspondingrelease lever become operative and means controlled by the releaselevers and adapted upon operation of any of the latter to return thereleased first mentioned means into engagement withtthe recording lever.

5. In a shuttle-changing system of the multiple-shuttle type, thecombination of a weft feeler, a shuttle-box control mechanism, ashuttle-changing mechanism including means operating to cause dischargeof the empty shuttle and supply of a replenished shuttle a shuttle boxselector controlled by the shuttle-box control mechanism and a memoryunit comprising recording ,levers,;the number of which is equal to thatof the operative shuttles in the loom, ,a rotary barrel controlled bythe shuttle-box control mechanism and including a number of projectionsequal to that of the shuttles and registering with the correspondingrecording levers, a shiftable-carrier for thebarrel, means whereby theweft feeler upon engagement with an empty shuttle shifts transiently theshiftable carrier into a position for which the barrel projectioncorresponding to the empty shuttle meets the corresponding recordinglever and shifts it into a predetermined angular position,

release levers operatively connected with the correspond-.

ing shuttle-changing mechanisms and provided each with a notch, catchessubmitted to a continuous reciprocating movement and adapted to engageeach the notchin a releasev lever and to shift thereby said releaselever into a position for which it controls the correspondingshuttlechanging mechanism, covering levers each normally engaged by thecorresponding recording lever and released with reference thereto whenthe said corresponding recording lever hasbeenshifted into theabove-mentioned predetermined position, said: covering levers normallycovering the notches in'the corresponding release levers and adaptedwhen released to drop into a notch-uncovering position, control leverscorresponding'each to a shuttle and controlled-selectively bythe-shuttle-boxselector at the moment of the passage of thecorrespondingjshuttle to enter an operative position, said controllevers when inoperative preventing the corresponding covering leversfrom dropping into their notch-uncovering positions, the location of anycontrol lever in itstoperative position allowing said dropping of thecorresponding covering lever and thereby operation of the correspondingrelease levers and shuttle-changing mechanism, a common release levercontrolled through-the operation of any of the first mentioned releaselevers and controlling the means operating to allow the change of-theempty shuttle andmeans controlled by the-general release lever andadapted upon operation of the'latter to return the released coveringlever into engagement with the corresponding recording lever.

vision of a weft feeler, a shuttle-changingmechanism for each of aplurality of dilferent'wefts, ,a'shuttle-box control mechanism, saidfeeler andshuttle-changing mechanism beingall positioned to one side ofthe loom, a shuttle-box selector controlled by the shuttle-box controlmechanism and positioned on the other side of the loom and a memoryunit-positioned above said selector and comprising recording levers, thenumber of which is equal tothat of the shuttles in the loom, a rotarybarrel controlled by the shuttle-box control mechanism and including, anumber of projections equal to that of the'shuttles, a shiftable carrier.fOr the barrel, a cable wherethrough the weft feeler upon engagementwith an empty shuttle 6.,In the shuttle-changing system'for aloom, theproshifts, transiently the shiftablev carrier into. a position forwhichthe barrel projection corresponding to the empty shuttlemeets,the,correspondingrecording lever and shifts it into apredetermined angular position, release levers, cablesoperativelyconnecting-the different release-levers with the correspondingshuttle-changing mechanisms and provided each with a notch, catchessubmitted to-a continuous reciprocating movement and adapted to engageeach the notch inra difierent release lever and to shift thereby saidrelease lever into a position for which itcon- 'trols the. correspondingshuttle-changing mechanism, plural means engaging normally each one ofthetrecording levers and releasedwith reference thereto when thecorresponding recording lever has been shifted into theabovementionedpredetermined position, said plural means be ing adapted.to allow, only when fully released, .the operative engagement ofthevcorresponding catches in the notches of the corresponding releaselevers, control members holding the corresponding last mentioned means,when released in anintermediate position, means whereby .the shuttle-boxselector transiently releases the corresponding holding members at themoment of operation of the corresponding shuttles and thereby releasesthe corresponding last mentioned means to allow the latter to enter itscompletely released position and to make thecorresponding release leverbecome operative and a tube containing the different cables andextending across the loom.

'7. In the shuttle-changing system for a loom, the provision of meansoperating to cause discharge of the empty shuttle and'supply of areplenished shuttle, a Weft'feeler, a shuttlerchanging mechanism foreach of a plurality of different wefts, a shuttle-box control mechanism,said feeler' and shuttle-changing mechanism being all positioned to oneside of the loom, a shuttle-box selector controlled by the shuttle-boxcontrol mechanism and positioned onthe other side of the loom and amemory unit positioned above said selector and comprising recordinglevers, the number of which is equal to that of the shuttles in theloom, a rotary barrel controlled by the shuttle-box control mechanismand including a number of projections equal to that of the shuttles, ashiftable carrier for the barrel, a cable wherethrough the weft feelerupon engagement with an empty shuttle shifts transiently the shiftablecarrier into a position for which the barrel projection corresponding tothe empty shuttle meets the corresponding recording lever and' shifts itinto a predeter mined angular position, release levers, cablesoperatively connectingthe different release levers with thecorresponding shuttle-changing mechanisms and provided each with anotch, catches submitted to a continuous recip rocating movement andadapted to engage each the notch in a diiferent release lever and toshift thereby said release lever into a position for which it controlsthe corresponding shuttle-changing mechanism, covering levers eachnormally engaged by the corresponding'recording lever andvreleasedwithreference thereto when the said corresponding recording lever hasbeen shifted into the above-mentionedpredetermined position, saidcovering levers normally covering the notches in the correspondingrelease levers and adapted when released to drop into a notch-uncoveringposition, control levers corresponding each to a shuttle and controlledselectively by the shuttle box selector at the momentofthe passage ofthe corresponding shuttle to enter an operative position, said controllevers when inoperative preventing the corresponding coveringlevers fromdropping into their notch-uncovering positions, the location of anycontrol lever in its operativeposition ;allowing- ,saiddropping of thecorresponding covering lever and thereby operation of the correspondingrelease levers and shuttle-changing mechanism, a commonrelease levercontrolled throughthe operation of any ofthe first mentioned releaselevers, a cable operatively connecting the shuttle-box operating meanswith the common release lever and means controlled by the generalrelease lever and adapted upon operation of the latter to return thereleased covering lever into engagement with the corresponding recordinglever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,054,173 Turner Sept. 15, 1936 10 Turner Sept. 15, 1936 Cederlund et alSept. 15, 1936 Turner Dec. 29, 1936

